Iloilo province recorded a total of 1,263 new dengue cases from August 11-17, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), citing its 33rd morbidity week report. This, after the provincial board placed the province under a state of calamity amid the outbreak.
The province has now logged a total of 5,836 cases, a 418 percent increase from the 1,127 cases reported during the same period in 2023. The PHO also reported 10 dengue-related deaths, with two additional fatalities pending confirmation through death certificates.
Passi City remains the hardest-hit area, with 437 cases and one death, followed by Oton (300), Calinog (238), Janiuay and Dumangas, (231 each). Majority of the patients, 934, are identified as children aged one to 10 years old; 903 patients are adolescents and young adults.
The PHO’s report highlighted that 357 barangays are experiencing clustering of cases, with nine identified as hotspots.
The Iloilo Provincial Board declared a state of calamity on August 20 and approved a resolution that allocates P13 million to combat the dengue outbreak.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) requested the funds, which will be used to purchase critical supplies.
The fund includes P3 million for the purchase of IV fluids for district hospitals; P5.6 million for knapsack sprayers to be distributed across 43 municipalities, including Passi City, for chemical spraying operations; P2 million for dengue test kits; and another P3 million for chemicals used in spraying.
Previously, the municipalities of Miagao, Oton, Passi City, and Tigbauan already declared their own states of calamity.
Regionally, Western Visayas has reported a total of 12,198 dengue cases, with 24 deaths. Iloilo continues to lead with the highest number of cases at 4,754 followed by Negros Occidental with (1,871), Capiz (1,251), Guimaras (912), Antique (759), Iloilo City (692), and Bacolod City (451).
